In the world of cinema, remakes and sequels to beloved classics are often met with a mix of excitement and trepidation, especially when following in the footsteps of a film as iconic as Twisters.
Stepping into such a legacy can be daunting, but rising star Brandon Perea has done just that. In an exclusive conversation with Geeks of Color, he opened up about his journey from Nope to Twisters, his respect for legendary directors Jordan Peele and Lee Isaac Chung, and how faith and love keep him grounded in Hollywood’s whirlwind.
In this spiritual sequel to the original film, Kate Cooper (Daisy Edgar Jone) is haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado. Lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Anthony Ramos), to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Glen Powell), a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma. Perea plays Tyler Owens’ right-hand man, similar to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Dusty in Twister.
Check out the Twisters interview with Brandon Perea below:
Perea has come a long way from his time on the series The OA to films like Nope and Twisters. I asked Perea what it was like stepping into the world of such an iconic franchise.
Perea said, “Man, it was a lot of weight to bear—definitely intimidating. When they first brought it up, my reps were like, ‘We’re tracking Twisters for you.’ My heart dropped because it’s such a legacy, such a classic. I wasn’t sure I could take that on. Then I heard Lee Isaac Chung was directing, and my excitement spiked. I mean, the director of Minari doing a Twisters sequel? That’s huge. But honestly, I didn’t think I’d get the role. I kept thinking, ‘There’s no way.’ And here we are, promoting it and talking about it. It’s a wild ride.”
If you’ve watched the film, you can see there are similarities between Perea’s character in Twisters and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character in Twister. Stepping into a role like this must’ve felt a little bit like stepping into Hoffman’s shoes and I wondered how Perea approached his portrayal.
“I felt the weight of that, for sure. When I first got the script, it wasn’t clear what role I’d be playing, but when I started reading the lines for Boone, I thought, ‘Wow, the poor guy who has to follow up Philip Seymour Hoffman.’ Little did I know a few weeks later, I’d be that poor guy! [laughs] It really motivated me to prep hard. I didn’t audition for Boone, so I had to build the character from the ground up—everything from his accent to his look. The long hair, the mustache—it all came together. I was blessed to have an amazing team of collaborators to help me bring it to life.”
Perea has talked about the trust that comes with working with visionary directors like Jordan Peele in Nope and Lee Isaac Chung in Twisters. He shared how their approaches influenced his performance.
“The trust was incredible. With Lee Isaac Chung, I had the freedom to try something different every take. Sometimes he’d give me a note, and other times he’d let me do whatever I felt was right for the scene. And with a director like him, I wasn’t afraid to fail. I knew he’d find the best take in the edit. Both he and Jordan Peele have this complex yet clear storytelling vision, and they guide you without micromanaging. It’s a gift, really, to be trusted at that level.”
Perea also reflected on how he balances staying true to the script while injecting his own energy into a character. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and serving the story.
“It’s all about serving the story. I focus on internalizing the character, understanding their beats and backstory, and then once I’ve done that work, I let go and just project freely. I’m not out there trying to steal scenes or shine for myself. It’s about being cohesive with the rest of the cast and the story. Acting, for me, isn’t a selfish thing—it’s collaborative. So, yeah, I love that some people notice my presence, but at the end of the day, it’s about the film, not just me,” he said
The cast of Twisters includes an incredible lineup, and Perea shared how they built their chemistry both on and off set.
“Oh, man, we clicked right away. We all got along so well—it was organic. We built memories both on and off set, whether we were filming in Oklahoma or hanging out after hours. We still have our Twisters group chat! [laughs] But really, it was such a collaborative atmosphere. Everyone brought their A-game, and we were all willing to go balls-to-the-wall to make the most fun movie we could. It was such a blast.”
Reflecting on his time working with directors like Lee Isaac Chung and Jordan Peele, Perea shared a key takeaway that he plans to carry forward in his career.
“Honestly, it’s how much they care—about everything. They both deeply respect every department on set, from the actors to the PAs and grips. They show so much gratitude and appreciation, which really resonated with me. It’s something I’ll never forget. That level of respect and genuine care for everyone working on the project is something I want to carry with me throughout my career. It creates a positive energy on set, and I think that really makes a difference.”
Although Perea spends much of Twisters chasing tornadoes, he shared how he stays grounded in his real life despite his rising career.
“For me, it’s all about faith—my faith in God and in love. Love is my guiding principle. I have love for everyone: my family, my partner, my work, and just life in general. That keeps me centered. I try to shine as brightly as I can in a positive way. In this industry, it’s easy to lose yourself, but staying grounded in love and faith is what keeps me focused and moving forward.”
As Perea wrapped up, he encouraged fans to check out Twisters and join in on the fun.
“Thank you! And yeah, Twisters is available to watch at home now—grab some popcorn, throw it on, and chase a tornado in your living room! [laughs] It’s a fun ride.”